Stories from 1986
Browse a timeline of top world events from 1986. Or, use Proust to tell your life story and share personal
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January 19, 1986
The first PC virus, Brain, spread and infected only the floppy disc.
January 28, 1986
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FL
Space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after taking off from Cape Canaveral. All seven astronauts died, including civilian Christa MacAuliffe who was participating in the Teacher in Space project.
February 3, 1986
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CA
Pixar was founded after Steve Jobs purchased the computer graphics department of director George Lucas's movie production company Lucasfilm, Ltd.
March 6, 1986
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Santa Fe, NM
Artist Georgia O'Keeffe, famous for her paintings of flowers and the American southwest, passed away at the age of 98.
April 26, 1986
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Kiev, Ukraine
Nuclear power plant Chernobyl had a devastating chemical explosion, releasing 50 tons of radioactive material into the atmosphere. Thousands were killed, 70,000 were poisoned from radioactive exposure, and 150,000 were relocated.
May 25, 1986
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Long Beach, CA
Raising money and public awareness for the nation's hungry and homeless, Hands Across America brought millions together to create a chain of hands from New York City to Long Beach, CA.
June 23, 1986
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Paris, France
Engineering student Eric Thomas created the first email list management software, LISTSERV, in which a person could send one email to a list containing multiple email addresses rather than sending it one at a time.
August 8, 1986
Spike Lee made his directorial debut with his first movie, She's Gotta Have It.
September 7, 1986
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South Africa
Already Johannesburg's first black Anglican bishop, Desmond Tutu was elected to be the first black archbishop of Cape Town, becoming the spiritual head of South Africa's Anglican Church. The church had two million South African followers and a million more in neighboring countries.
September 8, 1986
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Chicago, IL
The Oprah Winfrey Show was nationally syndicated for the first time on 120 channels to 10 million viewers. It would gross $125 million. Since the start of what would be the highest rated talk show, Oprah has diversified to film, magazines, books, radio, musical theater, the web, and her own network, all of which has helped her become one of the most influential people in the country.
November 3, 1986
A Lebanese newspaper revealed that the U.S. had a secret arms-for-hostages deal with Iran in spite of an arms embargo and Reagan's terrorist non-negotiation promise during his campaign for presidency. After Reagan publicly denied on television of any such happenings, it was discovered that money for the arms from Iran was redirected to the anti-Communist Nicaraguan Contras who were fighting Cuban-backed Sandinistas. Even though laws were broken in one of the biggest government scandals, next-President Bush pardoned 6 of the 14 involved in the Iran-Contra Affair and Reagan left office with a high approval rating.
November 22, 1986
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Las Vegas, NV
'Iron Mike' Tyson became the youngest heavyweight-boxing champion when he knocked out Trevor Berbick.
December 1, 1986
Fuji produced the first one-time-use disposable camera, QuickSnap. The parts were meant to be recyclable.
